Italian fishing boats seized in east Libya on way back home, Conte says

Italy’s  Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced Friday that the Libyan authorities have authorized the release of two Italian fishing boats seized in waters near the North African country earlier this week.

“I have just had confirmation that the two fishing boats, the Matteo Mazzarino and Afrodite Pesca, which were seized by Libyan military units Wednesday, have been authorized to return to Italy,” Conte said in a statement.

“Our fellow citizens will finally be able to return home. We never left them alone and we worked constantly for a breakthrough”.

However, Vincenzo Asaro, whose company owns the Matteo Mazzarino, said the two boats were heading towards “more tranquil fishing waters” in the direction of Greece.